Daniel has given me his word that he loves Liverpool and I will expect him to be here

Brendan Rodgers

However, Rodgers is adamant that Agger will not be leaving Anfield, and that the 28-year-old has assured him of his commitment to the Liverpool cause.

"Daniel has given me his word that he loves Liverpool and I will expect him to be here," Rodgers told a national newspaper. "He had chances to leave, but told me as long as we wanted him here, then he wanted to stay.

"He’s been brilliant, that is why we have given him the vice-captaincy. The one thing I got from him from the very first conversation is loyalty.

Brendan Rodgers is unfazed about speculation over Agger's future

"That is why he signed a new contract and committed himself to the club, and why we gave him a new contract - because we want him to be part of our future.

"He is important to the way we play, and he has been central to the way we work since I came here, and he knows that. There have been a couple of inquiries, but we have made our position clear."

Agger's current contract at Liverpool runs until summer 2016, placing them in a strong position to rebuff Barcelona's advances.